ABOUT

Inspired by the exile of Osorio’s grandfather during the military government in Chile, Bear Story is the academy award® winning shortfilm about a bear who longs to return to his family, where he belongs.

Bear Story is a moving shortfilm with a powerful message, directed by Gabriel Osorio and produced by Pato Escala. It premiered in Annecy Animation festival in 2014, and since then it has received over 50 international awards in the festival circuit, including Palm Springs Shortfest, Nashville, Cleveland Film Festival, Animamundi, and audience awards at Zagreb, Florida Film Festival, and Klik! Holland Animation Festival.

Bear Story won and Academy Award® for best animated short at the 88th Academy Awards, 2016.

REVIEWS & AWARDS

“ An emotional film that serves as an allegory for Chile’s Pinochet regime. This one could be a threat to win.”VARIETY

“This moving film is a haunting tale of past memories and a lonely, bleak future.”

ANIMATION WORLD NETWORK MAGAZINE

“An ingenious, dazzling piece of 3D animation.”THE WRAP

“This gorgeous film showcases incredible textural detail and visual storytelling of the most powerful and universal kind.”INDIEWIRE

“A hearbreaking parable.”THE GLOBE AND MAIL

“Bear Story is gorgeous and compelling and beautifully executed.”SPARK CG

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

My grandfather, Leopoldo Osorio, was detained on 1973, during Pinochet’s dictatorship in Chile.
He was incarcerated for two years, after which he fled to England, forced to live in exile and be apart from his family.
During my childhood I felt the invisible presence of an absent grandfather, who was not dead, but was not present in my life.
Bear Story is not about the life of my grandfather, but it is inspired by his absence and the mark it left on me.
Bear Story leaves some questions unanswered. What happened to the bear’s family? Where are they? These are the same questions that thousands of families ask themselves, who up to this day still don’t know where their loved ones ended up. I hope these questions never need to be asked again.
This short film is the result of over two years of hard work. Some of the best Chilean animators and artists came together to make it happen.
I sincerely hope that Bear Story reminds the audience of their loved ones and their significance in their lives.